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teach sb a lesson
/tˈiːtʃ ˌɛsbˈiː ɐ lˈɛsən/
/tˈiːtʃ ˌɛsbˈiː ɐ lˈɛsən/
to teach sb a lesson
[PHRASE]1
to hurt or punish someone in a way that ensures one they will never repeat their past behavior
What is the origin of the idiom "teach someone a lesson" and when to use it?
The origin of the idiom "teach someone a lesson" can be traced back to the notion of imparting knowledge or wisdom through experience. Teaching, in this context, refers to educating someone about the consequences of their actions. The idiom likely evolved over time as a metaphorical expression to describe the act of ensuring that someone learns from their mistakes or wrongdoing by subjecting them to a situation that serves as a lesson. It is often used in situations where someone has behaved inappropriately, hurt others, or committed a wrongdoing.
Examples
1. If he keeps making those threats, I'm going to have to fill him in and teach him a lesson.
2. All while teaching them a lesson about style.
3. Contrast that behavior, for a moment, with the more peaceful Bonobos, who are female-led, and when a male in her group gets a bit pushy, the females are prone to gang up and teach him a lesson.
4. That will teach them a lesson!
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